Picker stick stop mechanism



Aug. 22, 1950 c; H. HUFFERD 2,519,373

PICKER STICK STOP MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 22, 1950 G. H. HUFFERD 2,519,373

PICKER STICK STOP MECHANISM Filed June 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g- 1950 G. H. HUFFERD 2,519,373

PICKER STICK STOP MECHANISM s sheets-sheet 3 Filed June 15, 1949 Patented Aug. 22, 1950 2,519,373 PIcKEa STICK sror MECHANISM- George H. Huiferd, Shaker Heights, Ohio, as-- signor to Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, De troit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application June 15, 1949, Serial N 0. 99,189 Y This invention relates generally to a mechanism for controlling the movements of a picker stick on a shuttle loom, and more particularly to a, stop mechanism adapted to accurately position the picker stick in an intermediate stop or shuttle catching position and yieldingly resist relative motion between picker stick linkage elements produced by the force of a shuttle-impact upon thepicker stick.

The subject matter of the present invention constitutes a continuation-in-part of that previously disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 37,952, filed July 9, 1948.

Shuttle looms contemporarily employed in the textile industry are usually provided with a picker stick mechanism adapted to produce'a substantially straight line motion of a picker stick so'as to accurately propel a projectile-like shuttle across the lay of a loom. In accomplishing that end, most looms today are equipped with a so-called parallel motion assembly in which .a picker stick shoe is adapted to rock back and forth on'a base member. The speed of operation of a loom soequipped, usually measured in-the number of pick strokes attainable in a unit of time, is seriously limited because of the eccen--v tricities in operating characteristics resulting from the greatly increased forces, developed ,dur-- ing high speed loomoperation. a

In my copending application Serial No. 37,951, filed July 9, 1948, I have disclosed a parallel motion picker stick linkage including generally horizontally and vertically disposed linkage elements pivotally connected between a'pri-mary bracket secured to the loom rock shaft and a" picker stick bracket whereby exceptionally high speed operation of shuttle looms may be effected without seriously impairing loom operating efiiciency. The provision of a parallel motion picker stick linkage as therein disclosed contemplates the elimination of a number of antiquated,

loom accessories, manyof which depended on frictional characteristics to control and check the excess energy movements of the/picker stick during its cyclic operation.

The disclosure of the acknowledged applica-.

to provide improvedmeans for accurately-post 14 Claims. (01. 139149) tioning the picker stick at an'intermediatestop or shuttle-catching position subsequent to the" impact of the shuttle with the picker stick.

Another object of the present invention is toprovide a stop mechanism which yieldingly 'res'ists relative motion between elements of a pickerw stick linkage produced by the force of impact upon the picker'stick.

Yet another, object of the present invention is to provide a stopmechanism whereby the a shuttle;

intermediate stop or shuttle-catching position:

provide a parallel motion picker sticklinkage for,

a shuttleloom made up of simplified durable elements. which are easy to manufacture andwhich. may be conveniently adapted for installation on new or existing looms; v i I According to the general features of the pres ent invention, a parallel motion picker stick linkage is provided including a primarybracket to be secured to the rock shaft of a loomanda;

secondary bracket orpicker stick bracket adapted to positiona picker stickin a shuttle box.,'.,.A, generally horizontally disposed, link is provided, between the primary bracket, and the picker stick bracket ,to resist horizontal forces. Generally; vertically disposed link elements are provided between the primary bracket andthe picker stick bracket to resist, vertical forces. The/picker stick bracket thus permitted to oscillate through a predetermined curved'path in such a manner as to produce substantiallystraight line motion of the end of the picker "stick through the shuttle box.' I s This invention specifically contemplates the provisionof a; stop mechanism which takes the form of a bifurcated structure having upper and lower stop levers pivotally connected to the pick er stock bracket by an adjustable eccentric pin:

vided with adjustable loading means. The coaction between the roller of the primary bracket and the loaded arms pivotally carried by the picker stick bracket normally positions the picker stick bracket at a predetermined intermediate stop position and yieldingly resists relative motion between the brackets when the force of a shuttle impact is transmitted thereto by the picker stick.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of this invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon "making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanyingsheets of drawings upon which I have shown, by way of illustrative example only, a preferred embodiment of a parallel motion picker stick linkageincorporating the principles of my invention.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a parallel motion picker' stick linkage according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of an upper stop lever as embodied in the stop mechanism incorporated in the structure shown on Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a lower stop lever incorporated in the stop mechanism;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken on line V-V'of Figure 1; 1

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sec tiona-l view, with parts in'elevation, taken on line VI- -VI of Figure 1'; and

Figure 7 is an elevational view. partly in sectiofi', of a picker stick stop mechanism according to this invention.

Asshown on the drawings:

Referring to Figures 1 and 2. a parallel motion picker stick linkage is shown which is quite similar in construction and operation with that more completely described and claimed in my c'o'pending" application Serial No. 37,951, filed July 9,1948. H I

jBriefiy, the structure shown includes a rock shaft I0 of a conventional shuttle loom to which may be secured a primary bracket II. The bracket II is of generally bifurcated construction and is provided with a plurality of spaced bosses Ild, Ilb and Ho for journalling various pins, the description of which will be amplified hereinafter. 7 I

IA picker st ck bracket I2 is also provided and defines a vertically slotted portion in which a picker stick I3 may be firmly assembled by means of a conventional clamping structure indicated generally by the reference numeral Id. The picker stick bracket I2.is also of generally bifurcated construction and is provided with a plurality of bosses I2a, I2b, I2c and Hot for journalling purposes as will become evident fromthe description to follow.

- A generally horizontally disposed link It adapted to resist horizontal forces is pivotally connectedto the boss I2a of the picker stick bracket I2 by means of a pivot pin I1 and is pivotally connected to the boss Ila of the primary bracket II by an eccentric pivot pin I8. The end of the eccentric pivot pin I8 is constructed to cooperate with an appropriate adjusting tool such as a wrench, and the central portion thereof is eccentrically disposed relative to the major'longitudinal axis thereof so that rotation of the pin I8 in 4 the boss Ila will result in the selective adjustment of the effective length of the link I8.

One or more generally vertically disposed links I9 are pivotally journalled in the boss I Ic of the primary bracket II by a pivot pin and are pivotally connected to the boss I2c of the picker stick bracket I2 by a pivot pin 2 I.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that' the' link I 6 accommodates restrlctezr'vertical movement of the picker stick bracket I2 while resisting horizontal forces, Whereas the link or links I9 accommodate restricted horizontal movement while resisting vertical forces so that the pivot point defined by the pin 2I in the boss portion I20 of the picker stick bracket will constantly shift along a curved path approaching an optimum mathematically determinable curve so as to produce substantially straight line motion of the pick end of the picker stick I3 as it traverses the path of travel prescribed by the shuttle box of the loom.

The various pivot pins may be adequately lubricated through conventional grease fittings associated therewith. It may be noted that the linkage constructed as described may be operated at high rates of speed without detractin from the straight line characteristics necessarily produced in the motion of the end of the picker stick I3, and hence without impairing the operating efficiency of a loom s0 equipped.

An additional lever arm 22 having an apertured boss portion may be integrated with the pivot pin 20 by means of a set screw 23. The end of the lever arm 22 may be connected to a resilient member uch as a coil return spring 24 by appropriate fastening means 26, The other end of the return spring 24 is connected to the primary bracket H by appropriate fastening means as indicated at 21. In this manner, the bias exerted by the spring 24 will be transmitted to the linkage assembly to normally urge the picker stick toward an extreme outward position. The spring loading necessary to accomplish such movement may be selectively varied by angularly positioning the lever arm 22 relatively to the pivot pin 20.

In order to efiiciently check the rapid movement of the picker stick I3 at or near the limits of travel of its inner and outer strokes, an adjustable two-way checking unit 28 is provided for the parallel motion picker stick linkage. For detailed information relative to the construction and operation of a suitable form of a two-way check unit, reference may be had to the copending application of Bernard E. OConnor et al. No. 46,064, filed August 25, 1948.

As herein shown, the body of the checking unit 28 is pivotally secured to a boss II d formed on the primary bracket II by means of a pivot pin 29. An extended rod 30 of a piston (not shown) is provided with a suitable apertured boss to effect pivotal connection with a pin 3| journalled in the boss I2d of the picker stick bracket [2. A remotely controlledadjusting mechanism 32 extends outwardly from the checking unit 28 and may have its operative end located in an accessible portion of the loom so that operating personnel may conveniently adjust the checking characteristics of the checking unit 28 while the loom is in operation.

According to this invention, a picker stick stop mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 33 (Figure 7) may be provided for the parallel motion linkage structure.

Making particular reference to Figures 3-7, the

stop mechanism 33 is shown as comprising a bi-' loaded by a resilient member such as a coil spring 38.

In the preferred embodiment herein described, the upper stop lever or arm 36 comprises a strip of metal shaped to define a formed end or stop portion 36a and a journal 3612. A bolt aperture 350 is formed in an intermediate portion thereof (Figure 3). I

The lower stop lever or arm 3'! is of generally bifurcated construction and is likewise provided with a formed end or stop portion 3M and a journal 31b.

The levers or arms 38 and 31 may be properly positioned and supported by a pair of flanged braces 39 (Figure '7) and may be assembled to an eccentric pin 40 (Figures 1, 6 and '7) journalled in the boss 12b formed in the picker stick bracket l2. The journalling portion of the pin 40 is eccentrically disposed relative to the major axis thereof so that rotation of the pin 43 in the boss l2?) will eliiect selective adjustment of the operating characteristics of the stop mechanism 33. It Will be noted that the eccentric pin 43 is constructed at one end to cooperate with a suitable adjusting tool such as a wrench and selective adiustmentseffected therewith may be securely locked by tightening a nut 4! thread edly received'on the other end of the pin 43.

The formed ends or stop portions 36a and 3l'a of the leversor arms 36 and 31 are arranged to make a positive contact with an inside roller 42 and a pair of outside rollers 43 rotatably mounted on a pin 44 carried in the boss Hb formed in the primary bracket l I (Figure 5). The pin 44 may conveniently comprise a conventional bolt which may be firmly assembled with a primary bracket H by drawing up a nut 46 on the threaded end thereof.

The loading spring 38 may be placed in surrounding relationship to a spring bolt 4? and seated in a spring retainer 48 abutting the brace 39 adjacent the lower arm 3'1. The spring bolt 4? passes through a recess 370 formed between the bifurcated portions of the lever or arm 31 and through the aperture 330 formed in the lever or arm as as well as through appropriate apertures formed in the braces 33 so that a jam nut 43 may be adjustably threaded on the threaded end thereof.

When the stop mechanism 33 is initially adjusted for adapting the parallel motion picker stick linkage to a particular loom, the eccentric pin 43 may be selectively rotated so that the pin 44 and the rollers 42 and 43 carried thereby will abut the formed ends 36a and 31a of the levers or arms 33 and 3'! at a predetermined intermediate stop or shuttle-catching position. The

amount of load normally exerted by the loading spring 38 will be sufiicient'to resist the outwardly directed bias normally exerted by the return spring 24 so that the entire linkage will be retained at the intermediate stop or shuttle catching position as determined by the position of the levers or arms 33 and 3! relative to the pin 44. Thus, adjustment of the eccentric pin 40 permits selectively adjustable positive positioning ofthe picker stick I3 by virtue of the variable'position contact point between the formed ends 36a and 31a of thelevers or arms 36 and 31 with the rollers 42 and 43. o

The amount of load required to spread the levers or arms 36 and 31. must beof sufficient 6v quantitative value to spread the levers or arms 36 and 31 against the load of the spring 38. According to this invention, the quantitative value of the loadexerted by the spring 38 may be ad- 'justably varied by loosening or tightening the jam nut 49 on the spring bolt 41. However, when thepick'er stick I 3 is hit by the shuttle, the force of the blow overcomes the load exerted by the spring 38 and spreads the levers or arms 36 and 31 apart, allowing the parallel motionipicker yieldingly resist such motion.

Although the return spring 24 is shown and described as an integral part of the parallel motion picker stick linkage, it may be noted that once the unit it warmed up by continuous operation, the coaction of the spring-loaded levers or arms 36 I and 3! with the rollers 42 and 43 rotatably mounted on the pin 44 will actually operate to restore the linkage structure to the intermediate stop or shuttle-catching position subsequent to the impact of the shuttle upon the picker stick l3 without additional assistance from a separate resilient member such as the spring 24,

l It should be noted that the stop mechanism 33 does not interfere in any manner with the operation of the parallel motion picker stick linkage during that portion of the picker stick cycle corresponding to the forward throw. The construction of the stop mechanism 33 is such that no undesirable frictional forces are introduced to the. control linkage. llowever,- each time the picker stick l3 tends to return to its outermost position; either under the bias of the return spring 24 or-under the force of shuttle impact, the'stop mechanism is effective to yieldingly resist relative motion between the picker stick bracket l2 and the primary bracket. H' and return the various linkage elements to the intermediate stop or shuttle-catching position after the shuttle impact upon the picker stick l3.

It will be evident to those versed in the art that I have described an improved parallel motion picker stick linkage and a novel stop mechanism adaptable thereto in which convenient adjustment of the effective location of the intermediate stop or shuttle-catching portion of the picker stick may be effected in a minimum time, thereby permitting the loom so equipped to be periodically adjusted to optimum operating conditions without incurring substantial shut-down time to effect such adjustment with resultant imp-airing of loom efiiciency.

Furthermore, I have described a picker stick mechanism herein which may be conveniently as reasonably and properly fall within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

l. A picker stick stop mechanism for use with a pickerlstick bracket and a primary bracket of a loom comprising loaded armmeans to be carawrogaca:

ried-lbyione of the'brackets and means to beica-rried by'thefother bracket" which are engageable with said loaded arm means'and cooperablethere with to normally position the picker stick bracket at a predetermined intermediate stop position and yieldingly'resist relative'motion between the picker stick bracket and the primary bracket produced by the force of a shuttle impact uponthe picker stick.

- '2. A picker stick stop mechanism for use with a-picker stick bracket'and a primary bracket of a loom'comprlsing loaded arm'means to be pivotally'carried by one of the brackets, means to be carried;by the other bracket which are engageable with said loaded'arm means and cooperable therewith to normally position the picker stick bracket" at a predetermined intermediate stop position and yieldingly'resist' relative motion'between the picker stick bracket and" the'primary loading means associated with said arm means andbeing cooperablc therewith to' efiect a yieldable'loaded engagement between the said other bracket and said arm means to normally position the picker stick bracket at a predeterminedintermediate'stop position and yieldingly resist rela-" tive'motion between the picker stick bracket and the primary bracket produced by'the force of a shuttle impact upon the picker stick.

.4. A picker stick stop mechanism comprising arm means to be carried by a first bracket, means to be carried by a second bracket engageable with said arm'means, and'adjustable loading means associated with said arm means andbeing cooperable therewith to effect a yieldable, variably loaded engagement between the secondbracket and said arm means to normally position a picker stick carried inone of the brackets'at a predetermined-intermediate stop position and yieldingly resist-under an adjustably'variable load relative motion between the picker stick carrying bracket and the other bracket produced by the force of a shuttle impact upon the picker stick. 5.--A picker stick stop'mechanism comprising arm means to'be pivotally carried by a first" bracket, means to be carried by a second bracketengageable with said arm'means, loading means associated with said arm means and being cooperable therewith to effect a yieldable loaded engagement between said second bracket and said arm means to normally position a picker stick carried by one of the brackets at a predetermined intermediate stop position and yieldingly resist relative motion between the picker stick carrying bracket and the other bracket produced by the force-of a shuttle impact upon the picker stick,

and an eccentric pin pivotally journalling said arm means in the first bracket, said eccentric pin being selectively adjustable to vary the intermediate stop'position.

6. A picker stick stop mechanism comprising arm means to be pivotally carried by a first bracket, means to be carried by a second bracket engageable with said arm means, adjustable loading means associated with said arm means and being cooperab le therewith to effect ayieldable en,

ga'gement between saidsecond bracket and said arm means under an adjustably variable load to normally position a picker stick carried by one of the brackets at a predetermined intermediate stop position and yieldingly resist relative motion between the picker stick carrying bracket and the other bracket produced by the force of a shut tle impact upon the picker stick, and an eccentric pin pivotally journalling said arm means in the first'bracket, said eccentric pin being selectively adjustable position. 5- i i 7. A picker stick stop mechanism comprising an upper stop lever, a lower stop lever, both of said ,levers having formed end portions, a pin journalling both of said stop levers, a roller disposed between said levers normally engageable with the formed'end portions thereof at a positive contact? point, retainer means extending through said levers, and resilient means carried thereby for loading said levers, said pin and said roller adapted for mounting in relatively movable linkage elements of a picker stick linkage.

' 8. A picker stick stop mechanism comprising an upper stop lever, a lower stop lever, both 01" said levers having formed end portions, a pin journalling both of said stop levers, a roller disposed between said levers normally engageable with the formed end portions thereof at a positive contact point, retainer means extending through said levers, and resilient means carried thereby for loading said levers, said pin and said roller adapted'for mounting in relatively movable linkage elements of a picker stick linkage, said nzpin'defining an eccentric journalling portion and being selectively adjustable to vary the positive contact point position by adjustment of the effective length of the levers relative to said roller.

9. A picker stick stop mechanism comprising an upper stop lever, a lower stop lever, both of said levers having formed end portions adapted for interleafed relationship with one another, a pin journalling both of said stop levers,- a roller disposed between said levers normally engageable with the formed end portions thereof at a positive contact point, retainer means extending through said levers, and resilient means carried thereby for loading said levers, said pin and said roller adapted for mounting in relatively movable linkage elements of a picker stick linkage, said retainer means comprising a spring bolt carrying adjustable means thereon to retain said resilient means, whereby the quantitative load on said levers may be selectively varied.

l0. A picker stick stop mechanism comprising an upper stop lever, a lower stop lever, both of said levers having formed end portions adapted for interleafed relationshi with one another, a pin journalling both of said stop levers, said pin defining an eccentric journalling portion and being selectively adjustable to vary the positioning of the levers, a roller disposed between said levers normally engageable with the formed end portions thereof at a selectively adjustable positive contact point, and retainer means comprising a spring bolt'exten'ding through said levers and carrying adjustable means thereon to retain a resilient element such as a coil spring, whereby a selectively variable quantitative load ma be placed on said levers, said pin and said roller adapted for mounting in relatively movable linkage elements of a picker stick linkage.

11. A parallel motion linkage for a picker stick of;a shuttle loom comprising, in combination, a primary bracket adapted for connection to the to vary the intermediatestop,

rock shaft of a loom, a picker stick bracket, a generally horizontally disposed link between said primary bracket and said picker stick bracket to resist horizontal forces, a generally vertically disposed link between said primary bracket and said picker stick bracket to resist vertical forces, both of said links pivotally supporting said picker stick bracket to produce substantially straight line motion of the end of the picker stick when it is moved through a pick stroke and a, stop means comprising loaded arm elements carried by one of said brackets and being cooperable with the other of said brackets to yieldingl resist outward movement of the picker stick and operative to return said picker stick to an intermediate shuttle-catching position after shuttle impact therewith.

12. A parallel motion linkage for a picker stick of a shuttle loom comprising, in combination, a primary bracket adapted for connection to the rock shaft of a loom, a picker stick bracket, a generally horizontally disposed link between said primary bracket and said picker stick bracket to resist horizontal forces, a generally vertically disposed link between said primary bracket and sa d picker stick bracket to resist vertical forces, both of said links pivotally supporting said picker stick bracket to produce substantially straight line motion of the end of the picker stick when it is moved through a pick stroke, hydraulic check means between said primary bracket and said picker stick bracket to check rapid relative movement therebetween and a stop means comprising loaded arm elements carried by one of said brackets and being cooperable with the other of said brackets to yieldingly resist outward movement of the picker stick and operative to return said icker stick to an intermediate shuttle-catching position after shuttle impact thereon.

13. In combination with a hydraulically checked straight line picker stick linkage on a shuttle loom of a type having a primary bracket secured to the rock shaft of the loom and a picker stick bracket, a picker stick stop mechanism comprising a roller carried by the primary bracket, formed lever arms contacting said roller and being supported by the picker stick bracket and resilient means loading said lever arms, whereby relative movement between said brackets will be yieldingly resisted as the lever arms are spread by said roller against the resilient load.

14. In combination with a hydraulically checked straight line picker stick linkage for a shuttle loom of the type having a primary bracket secured to the rock shaft of the loom and a, picker stick bracket, the improvement comprising a picker stick stop mechanism including roller means carried by the primary bracket, formed lever arms contacting said roller means at a positive contact inter-mediate stop position, said lever arms being pivotally supported in said picker stick bracket by an adjustable eccentric pin, and resilient means loading said lever arms, whereby relative outward movement of the picker stick bracket away from the stop position will be yieldingly resisted as the lever arms are spread by said roller against the resilient load.

GEORGE H. HUFFERD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,930,080 Bentley et a1 Oct. 10, 1933 2,426,971 Kottemann Sept. 2, 1947 2,483,517 Balogh Oct. 4, 1949 2,484,119 Rinne Oct. 11, 1949 2,506,145 French May 2, 1950 

